More than three million lights will illuminate the skies over Bellingrath Gardens and Home as the Theodore, Alabama, estate celebrates its 26th annual Magic Christmas in Lights. The show, which starts November 27 and runs through January 3, 2021, includes more than 1,100 set pieces and 16 scenes located throughout the 65-acre property. Indeed, so […]
The Best Gumbo in Gulf Shores
With easy-peasy temperatures of the season inviting you out both day and night, taste buds are waking up to the spicier side of life. As you cruise the seashores of beautiful Gulf Shores, a piping hot bowl of gumbo is likely to hit the spot, especially with plenty of proven recipes in town. The tricky […]
The Gulf of Mexico and its white-sand beaches are the backdrop every fall for the Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival. Rated one of the top 20 events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, the Frank Brown festival showcases the talents of songwriters from around the world. This year, the festival opens November 11 […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live, play, vacation, and, more than anything, how we work. As more and more people began working remotely, they–and their companies–realized that many jobs can be performed from anywhere. So why not work remotely from the beach? As vacation rental companies had to adapt to a new […]
If you think a mullet is just a bad haircut, you probably haven’t heard about the Flora-Bama Lounge’s Annual Interstate Mullet Toss and Gulf Coast’s Greatest Beach Party. Centerpiece of this tongue-in-cheek Perdido Key event is a strange but satisfying three-day competition. It involves tossing a mullet – a small fish that’s found in abundance in […]
A trip to the beach is the perfect vacation to socially distance, since it’s an outdoor destination where the main attractions are fresh air, sand, and sun. But not everyone is content to just lie on the beach all day – especially if you’re traveling with kids. With some family fun centers, attractions, shops, and […]
More and more people are flocking to the beach as domestic and outdoor tourism rises, which means several coastal areas are seeing an increase in visitors. While the benefit of a beach vacation during the COVID-19 pandemic is that it allows for relatively safe travel, you still don’t want to be around large crowds, even […]
Twice a year, thousands of bikers wheel into Panama City Beach, Florida, for the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally. Held in spring (late April or early May) and fall (mid-October), the five-day event is huge, regularly featuring more than 200 vendors and exhibitors. With no gate fees, no admission charges, and no charge for parking, Thunder […]
Described as “the ultimate fishing tournament for saltwater anglers of all ages,” the Destin Fishing Rodeo takes place every day during the month of October, features more than $100,000 in cash and prizes, and attracts some 30,000 fishermen annually. Just about every kind of game fish is recognized with awards during the rodeo, so no […]
Fort Morgan Public Boat Launch Fort Morgan’s Public Boat Launch provides courtesy access to the beautiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico. With multiple slips allowing four boats to be launched or retrieved simultaneously, boating enthusiasts can come and go with ease. Ten parking spots allow for individuals or groups to meet for a day […]
You don’t have to be a history buff to enjoy a trip to Fort Morgan. Located on Mobile Point, a little more than 20 miles from Gulf Shores, it’s off the beaten path but definitely worth the trip. Completed in 1834, the fort was designed to control the main ship channel into Mobile Bay, so […]
There are literally hundreds of decisions to be made when planning a wedding. The first one is deciding where you want to get married. For those of us in love with the sugar-white sands of the Gulf Coast, a beach wedding is an ideal way to personalize the celebration. And the icing on the wedding […]
Beach Wedding Checklist
Both romantic and practical, beach weddings are popular with busy couples who want their big day to stand out from the crowd. And the white sands and emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico form a dramatic backdrop that’s guaranteed to make your wedding memorable. Other attractive Gulf Coast venues include lush tropical gardens, […]
(Reef photos courtesy of Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary and Navarre Beach Marine Science Station.) Take a look from the balcony of your Navarre beachfront condo or from a beach chair on the sugar-white sands, and there’s no denying that Navarre Beach boasts a natural beauty that stands above most other Northwest Florida vacation destinations. But there […]
On your next trip to Destin, why restrict all your fun to the beach? The Gulf of Mexico is home to thousands of marine creatures, and they offer plenty to explore beyond the water’s edge. But few inhabitants of the Gulf capture the imagination as well as dolphins. With their mouths curved into permanent smiles, […]
Safely exhibited behind the glass of an aquarium, jellyfish, with their fluorescent colors, spots, stripes, and other markings, can be real crowd pleasers. However, a close encounter with a jellyfish in the ocean or on the beach can have painful consequences for vacationers. The good news is that these stinging nuisances, which are found abundantly […]
Where you stay on vacation truly can make or break your experience. Booking a hotel room has been the traditional vacation practice for decades, and it’s an economical choice for a short stay. But vacation rentals – private homes and condominiums, typically located in residential areas – offer a different experience. Rentals not only feel […]
Did you know that seashells belong to the kingdom known as Mollusca? Most Mollusca are soft, slug-like creatures with a hard external shell that helps protect them in their ocean environment. It’s this outer shell that is more commonly known as a seashell. The shell itself is primarily composed of calcium carbonate, which is secreted over time […]
You’ve picked your dream beach destination, found a vacation rental, and you’re booking your stay, but inevitably you’ve got one more decision to make: Should you or shouldn’t you buy travel insurance. What would happen to your beach vacation investment in the event of a tropical storm or an unforeseen illness? What if you have […]
While Destin, Florida might be well known for the spectacular Gulf views from its sugar-white beaches, there’s another vantage point that provides even better views – and way more thrills as well. That’s the one from above via parasailing. A Unique Perspective Seeing this popular beach destination from 400 feet in the air provides the […]
On November 8 and 9, Naval Air Station Pensacola will welcome the Blue Angels back to the base for their homecoming air shows. The Friday and Saturday shows will mark the Angels’ 73rd anniversary. Since 1946, they have been traveling the country, wowing audiences with their precision flight formations (sometimes bringing them as close to each […]
He or she may be your family’s best friend, but when it comes to including Fido or Fifi on your next jaunt to the beach, knowing where your pooch will be welcome takes a little extra planning. While it’s true that many Florida and Alabama beaches don’t allow dogs, there are still plenty of dog-friendly […]
One of the most popular events on the Alabama coast returns to Gulf Shores this fall. Scheduled for October 10-13, the 48th annual National Shrimp Festival is expected to attract more than 250,000 visitors to the city. Founded in 1971 to lure tourists to Alabama beaches during the off-season, the Gulf Shores event has since […]
Whoever said life is all about the journey rather than the destination clearly did not have a Boardwalk Beach Resort wedding in Panama City. Close your eyes and picture you and your partner, the bridal party, and the groomsmen having fun taking photos while the sun sets over the Gulf of Mexico. Think of how […]
It’s not too early to start thinking about raising a glass or two at the Baytowne Wharf Beer Fest. Held every fall at The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Sandestin’s popular shopping and entertainment venue, the festival has earned a reputation as the “Best Beer Fest on the Emerald Coast.” Scheduled this year for October 11 […]
Internationally acclaimed artists will flock to Cape San Blas for 10 days, beginning May 3, for the Forgotten Coast en Plein Air, America’s Great Paint-Out. Hailed as being among the most prestigious events of its kind, the paint-out features professional artists capturing scenes from Florida’s Forgotten Coast on canvas. Celebrating the Recovering Environment This year’s […]
It’s a fact that the sugar-white sands and blue-green waters of the Northwest Florida and Alabama Gulf coasts attract millions of visitors each year. But did you know that these locations also offer some of the best fishing in the world? In fact, the fishing fun is just as bountiful as sunshine here. And you […]
10 Top Things To Do in Clearwater Beach
Clearwater Beach is the stuff that postcards are made of — a Florida vacation destination that offers picturesque blue waters so clean and clear you can see through to the bottom. But while it is visually stunning and filled with enough natural beauty to make you forget about the rest of the world, there is much […]
While most visitors are naturally drawn to the beautiful beaches when booking a stay on Highway 30A, they quickly realize that there is much more fun and adventure to be had than a simple day at the beach. This renowned location is bursting with natural beauty, serene scenery, and a playful nature. In fact, staying at a beach […]
Discover Florida’s Forgotten Coast
The natural unspoiled environment known as “Florida’s Forgotten Coast,” which includes the quiet coastal communities of Apalachicola, St. George Island, Mexico Beach, Cape San Blas, and Carabelle, offers a unique look into the rich traditions of Florida’s Gulf Coast. This colorful area is best known for its excellent oysters, superb fishing, and mouth-watering seafood, but there […]
